Molding for electric wiring



G. CUTTER. MOLDING-FOR ELEGTRIO WIRING.

1 (No Model.)

N0. 444,37'7. PatentedJan. 6,'1891.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

V GEORGE CUTTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOLDING FOR ELECTRIC WIRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,377, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed July 21, 1890. Serial No. 359,404. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE CUTTER, of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding for Electric WViring, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Heretofore the molding used for putting up the wires for interior purposes-such as electric household appliances and incandescent lighting-was constructed entirely of wood with two parallel longitudinal grooves made in its surface next the wall or ceiling, to which it was attached forthe reception of the positive and negative wires. This construction is objectionable, because of the fact that the wood partition or septa between these grooves becomes in course of time carbonized, and when by accident or natural causes the wires short-circuit this septa becomes candescent, ignites the adjacent wood, and causes conflagration.

Theobject of my invention is to provide a simple yet important improvement in such moldings, whereby the possibility of combustion being generated is avoided, substantially as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a modification thereof, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the common molding now in extensive use.

In the drawings, A represents a strip of molding, the outer surface of which is given such conformation as to be pleasing to the eye, or is made perfectly plain, as desired. The inner surface of this strip (that which is placed flat against the supporting structure) is provided with a longitudinal groove to, which is divided into two or more longitudinal channels by means of the longitudinal partition-strips b Z2. These strips are made of vulcanized rubber or other suitable insulating material, and are secured in position about as shown in Fig. 1 by having their inner edges embedded in the bottom of the said groove a or otherwise. The Wires are laid lengthwise in the channels thus made, and the molding is fastened direct to the wall or ceiling or to a strip of wood A, which covers said groove and is attached to the wall or ceiling. The outer edges of these strips I) bear against the supporting structure or against the said strip of wood A, so as to make each channel separate and independent of the other.

In Fig. 2 I show a modified form of my invention, which is especially adapted for use for stretching naked wires in buildings having iron or metal walls or ceilings. The molding A and partitioned groove 01- is just the same as hereinbefore described; but as it is desirable to avoid metal contact in securing the mold in position the grooved surface faces outward, and a cover B is used to close the channels in which the wire is placed. This cover is preferably made of a thin slab of wood and is of a width less than the width of the molding, so that its side edges can rest in suitable longitudinal rabbets c 0, made in the molding contiguous to the side walls of the groove. This cover may be secured in place by screws or nails being driven through its sides into the molding. I prefer, however, to provide the side edges with corresponding grooves d d and to confine the cover in its place by means of the clamps O, which, preferably, are made of flexible metal of a length corresponding to the width of the molding, with their ends D turned inward at right angles to their length a distance corresponding to that between the outer surface of the molding and said grooves, and with the ex tremities e of these ends turned inward into grooves (Z. This clamp, after the cover is placed in position, may be slid longitudinally from the end of each strip of molding into place, or may have their ends sprung outward until their respective extremities are opposite to their respective grooves and then released, so as to snap into position. As the length of these clamps will press against the cover, they securely hold the same in place.

What I claim is- 1. Molding A, having a groove a, and removable longitudinal partitionstrips b b, of

insulating material, placed and secured lonto make independent channels therein hegitudinally in said groove, as set forth. tween said strips, as set forth.

2 Molding A, having a groove a, andre- 4 i) T"",. movable longitudinal partition-strips b b, of GFORGI l J FR 5 insulating material, placed and secured 10n- Witnesses:

gitudinally in said groove, in combination ALBERT SCHEIBLE,

with a cover B for closing said groove, so as I I. XV. HOOP. 

